Combination desk and seat construction

ABSTRACT

THE COMBINATION DESK AND SEAT CONSTRUCTION COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF DECK TOPS LOCATED SIDE BY SIDE, SUPPORTED BY A VERTICAL STANDARD, A BRACE CONNECTED TO ADJACENT DESK TOPS AND ENGAGING A BASE FASTENED TO A FLOOR REARWARDLY OF STANDARDS, A SEAT FOR EACH DESK MOUNTED ON AN INCLINED SUPPORTING BAR, TWO OF SAID BARS EXTENDING SIDEWISE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM ONE BASE FOR SUPPORTING TWO SEATS. EACH STANDARD COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY ELONGATED GENERALLY TRAINGULARLY SHAPED PANELS CONNECTED TOGETHER AND PROVIDING AN UPPER EDGE FOR SUPPORTING THE MAJOR WIDTH OF A DESK TOP AND A RELATIVELY SMALL LOWER END BEARING ON THE FLOOR. EACH SEAT COMPRISES AN INTEGRALLY FORMED CURVED FRAME WHICH HAS SIMILAR CUSHIONED MEMBERS MOUNTED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF ONE END TO FORM A SEAT AND HAS SIMILAR CUSHIONED MEMBERS MOUNTED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE OTHER END TO FORM A BACKREST.

Sept. 20,1971 B 'BROWNF|ELD ETAL 3,606,451

comsnmzon DESK AND SEAT cons'rnucuou Filed March 19, 1969 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JAMES B. BROW/VF/ LD Y EDWARD E NAT/0N r16. 2 v fM A T TORNE Y p v1971 J. B. BROWNFIELD ETAL 3,606,451

COMBINATION DESK AND SEAT CONSTRUCTION Filed March 19, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 n =-//I II II In. h i m 1 1 M ill I. 9 5 H11 JAMES B. BROWNFIELD 4 By EDWARD E. NATION A 7' TORNE Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 n a: 2 2m m 57* Q m W .JMHU/ m Wm WM 15.5. .m m ,1 N W ME YRv B Sept. 20, 1971 J. B. BROWNFIELD ETA!- COMBINATIONIDESK AND SEAT CONSTRUCTION Filed March 19, 1,969

Sept. 20, 19-11 RO I EI'AL 3,606,451

COMBINATION DESK AND SEAT CONSTRUCTION Filed March 19, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet L Inn.-

. INVHN'IURS.

V- JAMES B. BROWIVFIELD BY EDWARD E. NA T/O/V rm, :4 L Fl6. I3 E) A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,606,451 COMBINATION DESK AND SEAT CONSTRUCTION James B. Brownfield and Edward E. Nation, Cheyenne, Wyo., assignors to Cannon Aeronautical Center, Cheyenne, Wyo.

Filed Mar. 19, 1969, Ser. No. 808,553 Int. Cl. A47c 39/00 US. Cl. 297-174 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The combination desk and seat construction comprises a plurality of deck tops located side by side, supported by a vertical standard, a brace connected to adjacent desk tops and engaging a base fastened to a floor rearwardly of standards, a seat for each desk mounted on an inclined supporting bar, two of said bars extending sidewise in opposite directions from one base for supporting two seats. Each standard comprises a plurality of vertically elongated generally triangularly shaped panels connected together and providing an upper edge for supporting the major width of a desk top and a relatively small lower end bearing on the floor. Each seat comprises an integrally formed curved frame which has similar cushioned members mounted on opposite sides of one end to form a seat and has similar cushioned members mounted on opposite sides of the other end to form a backrest.

This invention relates to a combination desk and seat construction, and particularly to a series of combination students desks and seats in which the desks of a series are connected together, side by side, and the seats are supported in pairs which serve two desks.

The main object of the invention is to provide combination desks and seats which are extraordinarily sturdy and durable, which can be produced economically, and which can be assembled in series of any desired numbers of desks and seats. With the exception of wooden dividers located between adjacent desks, the desk constructions are entirely metal, such as steel, preferably vinyl clad to simulate wood and constructed to simulate panels of substantial thickness.

Another object of the invention is to provide combination desks and seats which are attractive in appearance, and capable of supporting substantial weight although employing floor-supported base members having relatively small cross sectional area. The use of means for supporting two seats on a single base results in economies in construction as well as minimum floor-contacting structures, whereby sanitary floor conditions can be maintained at minimum expense and eifort.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is adapted for use in class rooms equipped with students response recording apparatus which includes student response units electrically connected to response recording devices. For this purpose the desks are provided with student response units and with means for conducting electrical wiring to and from each unit. However, the desk and seat combinations herein shown and described may be employed in other class rooms and the special electronic equipment may be omitted.

The form and construction of the several panels which constitute the desk top supporting standard have produced savings in materials and labor costs, in addition to the advantage gained from the efiicient support of the desk with the minimum floor contacting area required by the standard.

Cushioned units comprise the top and bottom of the 3,606,451 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 seat and back and front of the backrest of the seat. The units are substantially similar and the seat units and back rest units are mounted on opposite ends of an integrally formed steel frame. The construction and method of assembly contribute substantially to low cost production, as well as ease of replacement of units when required.

Each seat swivels relatively to its support and also is bodily movable relatively to the base in which its support is mounted. Means are provided for raising and lowering each seat relatively to its support.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a combination student desk and seat with parts of adjacent desk and seat units at each side, embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational side view of the combination desk and seat.

FIG. 3 is an elevational front view of a series of the combination desk and seat units, partly broken away,

FIG. 4 is an elevational rear view of the series of desk-seat units shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a transverse, vertical sectional view in the plane of the line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a transverse, vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, in the plane of the line 6--6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, in the plane of the line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, in the plane of the line 88 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view in the plane of the line 99 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is an elevational side view of a divider located between adjacent desks, as viewed from the plane 1010 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, in the plane of the line 1111 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view through the foot portion of the desk, showing a modified construction designed for mounting the desk on an inclined floor.

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view, partly in elevation, of a stop block mounted on the under side of the seat.

FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the seat member.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, a series of desks 10 are located side by side, and separated by a divider 11. A seat structure indicated as a whole by 12, is provided for each desk 10, and each seat is supported by an inclined mounting bar 13', which extends sidewise from the seat structure, a pair of the mounting bars 13 being mounted in a common base 14 fixedly connected to a floor between two of the seats 12.

The desk construction and method of assembling it will be described by reference to FIGS. 15, 8, 9, 10 and 12. The desks are made of vinyl-clad sheet steel; only the dividers 11 are made of wood. Each desk 10 comprises an inclined top 20 with downturned front flange 21 and up turned rear flange 22. The inclined top 20 is supported on a standard which consists of three panels, 23, 24, 25, provided with longitudinal inturned edges 26, 27, welded or otherwise connected together to form the outwardly or forwardly facing part of the standard as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9. The rearward edges of the panels 23 and 25 are bent as indicated at 28, 29. A lining for the standard consists of three panels 30, 31, 32, which may be integrally formed, extending generally parallel to the outwardly facing panels 23, 24, 25, respectively. The lining panels are spaced from the outwardly facing panels by the edge members 28 and 29 to which the are connected by rivets or other suitable means 33, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9. At their lower ends, the panels 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 and 32 are mounted on a base 34, and a bolt 35 or other suitable means connects the base to a floor. The cross sectional area occupied by the lower ends of the panels and their base plate 34 is relatively small but due to the construction of the standard as a whole the base adequately supports the heavy desk as a whole.

At their upper ends, the panels which constitute the desk standard are provided with horizontally bent edges on which the desk top rests. As shown in FIG. 1, in broken lines, the panels 23, 24, has horizontally disposed edges 36, 37, 38, respectively. The lining panels 30, 31, 32, have horizontally disposed edges 39, 40, 41, respectively. The said edges are bolted or otherwise fastened to the desk top 20 as indicated at 42, in FIG. 5.

In order to assemble the outwardly facing connected panels 23, 24, 25 with the lining panels 30, 31, 32, the lining panels as a unit are inserted, lower end first, into the upper end of the space adjacent the inner surfaces of the outwardly facing standard panels 23, 24, 25, so as to pass slidingly downwardly and fit the panels and 32 adjacent the inturned edges 29 of the panels 23 and 25, in readiness for fastening them together by bolts or other fasteners 33; and for fastening the top to the horizontally disposed edges of the panels.

Each desk also is provided with a super-top located above and spaced from the forward part of the desk top 20. The cross sectional form of the super-top 45 is shown in FIG. 5. It comprises a sheet of vinyl-clad metal bent to provide an inclined panel 46, as long as the width of the desk top 20, having an upturned portion 47 and downturned portion 48 on the edge facing the student and a downturned and inwardly turned edge portion 49 facing toward the front of the desk. Welded or otherwise attached to the part 46 is a facing panel shaped to cover the flange 22 of the desk top 20 as well as the edge 37 of the standard panel 24.

The super-top 45 is mounted at its opposite ends in the dividers 11. As shown in FIG. 10, the dividers are grooved at opposite sides to receive the end edges of the super-top 45. The several sections of the grooves are designated 46, 47', 48', 49 and 50" to receive the end edges of the super-top members 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50, respectively. Pins 51, 52, project from the divider 11 as shown in FIG. 10 to engage the end edges of the super-top 45 and retain the front facing panel 50 in intended position against the flange 22 of the top 20, as shown in FIG. 5.

The dividers 11 located between adjacent desks are provided on both sides with the grooves described herein, but the divider which is part of the end desk of a row of desks is grooved on only one side and is plain and ungrooved on the exposed side as shown in FIG. 2.

When the desks are used in a class room equipped with electronic student response recording means, the equipment may include a student response unit comprising push buttons for use by students to indicate selected answers to questions which may be portrayed on a screen. Such a student response unit is indicated as a whole at in FIGS. 4 and 5. Slots 56 are provided in the dividers 11 to accommodate electrical wiring to and from the units 55.

The lower end of the standard which comprises the front facing panels 23, 24, 25, and the lining panels 30, 31, 32, may be supported on a level, horizontal floor as shown in FIG. 5, or on an inclined floor as shown in FIG. 12. The floor contacting part 57 of the panels of the standard is bent to the desired angle for this purpose. Reinforcing plates 58 are welded or otherwise attached to the panels at their lower ends.

A center brace 60 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 11. The brace 60 is connected at its upper end to a part 61 of the desk top 20 and a divider 11 by bolts 62 which extend through adjustment slots 63 (FIGS. 8 and 10). The brace 60 is made of tubular metal stock bent into hollow bar form. The upper edge portions 64 are pinched together when the bolts 62 are tightened, as shown in FIG. 8. The lower end of the brace 60 fits into the base 14 which serves also as the base for the inclined supports 13 on which seats are mounted. The braces 60 are used be tween adjacent desks to support the forward portions of two desk tops which abut one divider 11, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, but braces 60 are not required at the opposite ends of the same desk tops. Thus one brace 60 serves two desks, and one base 14 serves as a base for one brace 60 and two supports 13 for two seats 12.

SEAT CONSTRUCTION The seat constructions 12 are shown generally in FIGS. 1-4 and in sectional detail in FIGS. 6 and 7. Each seat construction 12 comprises a metal frame member which consists of a corrugated curved portion 70 in which the ribs extend horizontally, a flat portion 71 which extends into the horizontal portion of the seat structure, and a flat portion 72 which extends upwardly into the back rest portion of the seat structure. Except for some differences in contour the parts which constitute the seat proper 73 and the back 74 of the seat structure (FIG. 2) are similar.

To construct the seats as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a bottom vinyl sheet 75 is placed on a suitable support (not shown), a resilient sheet such as a foam rubber layer 76 is placed on the vinyl sheet 75, and a contoured metal sheet 77 is placed on the resilient layer 76; the outer vinyl sheet 75 is turned over at its edges to overlie the metal sheet 77 and held in place by adhesive 78. Similar parts, namely, a top vinyl sheet 80, resilient layer 81 and seat contoured metal sheet 82 are assembled with adhesive 83. Bolts 79 extend upwardly through the metal frame member 71 and through the metal sheet 82 to which nuts 84 have been fastened. The upper seat assembly is pressed down into the lower assembly as shown in FIG. 6 after welding alloy 85 has been placed on the frame member 71. The corrugated portion 70 of the frame may be reinforced at its side edges by square rods 86 (FIG. 7). The bolts 79 engaging the nuts 84 draw the two cushioned members together.

After the two units of the seat top and bottom and of the backrest front and back have been assembled as described, a mounting plate 87 is fastened to the bottom of the seat by bolts 88 and nuts 89. A seat mounting rod 90 depends from the plate 87 to swivel in the sleeve 94 in an apertured outer sleeve 91. The rod 90 and seat can be raised or lowered and held in adjusted position by the horizontal pin 92 which has a ring 93 at one end. The pin extends through registering apertures in the sleeves 91 and 94 as shown in FIG. 6.

A stop block 95 fixed on the bottom plate 87 of the seat 73 limited the swivel movement of the rod 90 by contacting the upper end of the sleeve 94.

As shown in FIG. 11, the lower end 96 of the inclined 1 support 13 of each seat structure is cut on an angle and shaped to form a cylindrical body which is rotatable about the pivot pin 97 by which the support 13 is mounted in the base 14. If the support 14 is mounted on an inclined floor, a spacer 98 adjusts the support to the floor.

We claim:

1. A combination desk and seat construction supported on a floor, comprising:

(a) plurality of desk tops located side by side,

(b) a vertical standard supporting each desk top,

(0) a brace fastened at its upper end to two adjacent desk tops and extending downwardly and rearwardly to the floor,

(d) a base fastened to the floor rearwardly of and abutting the lower end of the brace,

(e) a seat rearwardly of each desk,

(f) a pair of inclined seat supporting bars extending sidewise and upwardly in opposite directions from the base and each having a lower end pivotally mounted in the base for movement independently of each other, and

(g) means on the upper end of the inclined supporting bar for mounting a seat thereon.

2. The combination desk and seat construction defined by claim 1, in which the vertical standard comprises a plurality of vertically elongated generally triangularly shaped panels connected together and providing an upper edge for supporting the major width of the desk top and a relatively small lower end bearing on the floor.

3. The combination desk and seat construction defined by claim 1, in which the vertical standard comprises a multi-paneled outer wall of vinyl clad sheet metal inclined downwardly and inwardly from the desk top and having longitudinal side edges bent to extend at right angles to the panel surfaces, the panel portion being generally triangular in shape, having its widest horizontal edge at the upper end, a lining member substantially parallel to the outer wall inserted lower end first in the upper end of the outer wall in the space between the side edges of the outer wall, and means fastening the lining member to the said edges in spaced relation to the panel portion of the outer wall.

4. The combination desk and seat construction defined by claim 1 which includes a divider between and fastened to adjacent desk tops, and in which the brace extends downwardly and rearwardly from the divider to the base.

5. The combination desk and seat construction defined by claim 1 which includes a super-top located above and spaced from the forward portion of each desk top and having a downturned front apron which covers the front edge of the desk top.

6. The combination desk and seat construction defined by claim 1 which includes a divider between and fastened to adjacent desk tops, and a super-top located above and spaced from the forward portion of each desk top, the divider being grooved on opposite sides to receive the end edges of the super-tops of adjacent desk tops.

7. The combination desk and seat construction defined by claim 6 which includes a student response unit between the desk top and super-top, electrical wiring connected to each response unit, and an opening in the divider through which the wiring extends to a source of current.

8. The combination desk and seat construction defined by claim 1 which includes a divider between and fastened to adjacent desk tops, and a student response unit mounted on each desk top, the divider having an opening therethrough, and electrical wiring connected to each student response unit passing through said opening in the divider.

9. The combination desk and seat construction defined by claim 1, in which each seat comprises an integrally formed inner frame having a horizontal and a vertical portion and an intermediate curved portion, upper and lower cushioned members fastened to opposite sides of the horizontal part of the frame, and front and back cushioned members fastened to opposite sides of the vertical part of the frame.

10. The combination desk and seat construction defined by claim 9, in which each of the cushioned members comprises a contoured metal plate, an adjacent layer of resilient material, an outer vinyl sheet having its ends inturned over the resilient layer and contoured plate, and adhesive holding the parts in place, and means connecting a pair of said cushioned members to the inner frame.

11. The combination desk and seat construction defined by claim 1, in which each seat has a depending mounting rod and each inclined supporting bar has an apertured sleeve on its upper end for receiving the rod, and means for adjusting the height of the rod in the sleeve.

12. A combination desk and seat comprising:

(a) a flat desk top,

(b) a vertical standard supporting the top on a floor,

comprising a plurality of vertically elongated generally triangularly shaped panels connected together and providing an upper edge for supporting the major width of the desk top and a relatively small lower end bearing on the floor,

(c) a brace fastened to one side of the desk top and extending diagonally downwardly from the top,

(d) a base fastened to the floor rearwardly of the standard and engaging the lower end of the brace,

(e) a seat located rearwardly of the standard,

(f) an inclined supporting bar extending sidewise from the base and having a lower end pivotally mounted in the base, and

(g) means on the upper end of the inclined supporting bar for mounting the seat thereon.

13. The combination desk and seat defined by claim 12, in which the connected panels constitute an outer wall of vinyl clad sheet metal inclined downwardly and inwardly from the desk top and having longitudinal side edges bent to extend at right angles to the panel surfaces, the panel portion being generally triangular in shape, having its widest horizontal edge at the upper end, and the standard includes a lining member substantially parallel to the outer wall inserted lower end first in the upper end of the outer wall in the space between the side edges of the outer wall, and means fastening the lining member to the said edges in spaced relation to the panel portion of the outer wall.

14. A desk construction comprising:

(a) a flat top,

(b) a vertical standard supporting the top on a floor comprising a plurality of vertically elongated generally triangularly shaped panels connected together and providing an upper edge for supporting the major width of the desk top and a relatively small lower end bearing on the floor.

(c) a brace fastened to one side of the desk top and extending diagonally downwardly from the top, and

(d) a base fastened to the floor rearwardly of the standard and engaging the lower end of the brace.

15. The desk construction defined by claim 14 in which the connected panels constitute an outer wall of vinyl clad sheet metal inclined downwardly and inwardly from the desk top and having longitudinal side edges bent to extend at right angles to the panel surfaces, the panel portion being generally triangular in shape, having its widest horizontal edge at the upper end, and the standard includes a lining member substantially parallel to the outer wall inserted lower end first in the upper end of the outer wall in the space between the side edges of the outer wall, and means fastening the lining member to the said edges in spaced relation to the panel portion of the outer wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,860,291 5/1932 Majcher 297-l4'1 2,652,307 9/1953 Harazim 10860X 3,266,840 10/1966 DEstrub 297lX 3,486,790 12/1969 Barecki et al 297-l42 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,174,036 11/1958 France 297- 209,920 3/ 1961 Switzerland 297-457 JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 297-141; 108-60 

